Sylvia Lampe Gross

Sylvia Lampe Gross, 93, born Bessemer, Michigan, February 14, 1918, passed away to join the love of her life, Bernard, on July 8, 2011.

Sylvia, or Nina, as she was known to her family, lived a long and fascinating life.  Prior to her marriage, she put herself through secretarial school in Chicago and New York and worked  until she met Bernie and was swept off her feet.  They were wed on September 5, 1942, before he left to serve his country overseas.  Before it was fashionable, she was a liberated woman in the 1950’s.  She ran a machinery rental company and was the first woman in California to get a license to operate an Omar tool driver.  She was an avid Democrat and worked tirelessly for the Woman’s Democratic Club and especially during the Clinton campaign.  Sylvia loved journalism and expressed her opinion on a wide variety of topics through letters to the editor. She was very proud to have so many of them published.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard, who recently passed, and her parents, Herman and Emelia Lampe and all of her eight siblings.  She is survived by her daughters, Pam (Mike) Christensen and Wendy (Vince) Aiello, and son, David (Liz) Gross.  She also leaves behind her grandchildren Tony, Wendy, and Tammy and great-grandchildren, Michelle and Timothy.  She touched the lives of many and will be missed.

A small private service will be held on Thursday, July 13, at Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.